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Any tips or tricks for giving a particularly wily dog a pill?

My very old dog has become a big grump about taking pills. He used to tolerate the "pop it down the throat" method, but now he absolutely refuses to allow that. He is also not fooled by Pill Pockets. I think he associates the smell with being tricked into taking a pill and has decided it's not worth it...he won't even eat them when they are empty. He's also pretty skilled at separating out pills from pieces of cheese. Such a wily old guy. ;) Any tips for how to get him to take a pill?

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Easy! First, get the dog into the "food frenzy" mode just like a shark gets. LOL. Toss him little balls of cream cheese or Velvetta or balls of rolled up soft american cheese. Let him eat 3 or 4 or 5 plain. THEN toss him one food ball with the pill wrapped up inside. change it up - one time use one kind of cheese, then next time use a different flavor. You can also use hamburger meat. Just get him into a food frenzy mode first. It's best to do this right before meal time when he is HUNGRY. Dogs tend to not chew much, so hopefully he will just swallow the food ball.

Carrie B.

Food frenzy is the key... Use his favorite food. My dog will separate the pill out, have him sit, give food with their head back then quickly give food wrapped pill with head tilted back with another pill free food item. I use turkey or ham lunch meat since I have a picky eater

Kathy T.

you can use flavored pill pockets or with the owners permission a piece of ham. they will just eat it whole. they love ham

Alfredo R.

Yes, you can try liverworse cold cuts. It is very easy to make a livetworse pill pockets.

Luibov B.

I tried EVERY thing with my 160 lb male Rottie! He would eat whatever the pill was in, then spit the pill out. He's so laid back, I could open his mouth & shove it down his throat, but I HATED to do that to him! Now, I wrap each of his pills in a small piece of Braunschweiger--works great every time

Diana G.

I have a "pill-er" in my utensil drawer, that has never been used. My dog is nearing 14 years and we adopted her the day she turned six weeks. Hips out as a pup, grew from cartilage. I tried to force pills down but peanut butter was better.

Deirdre and James C.

I simply grab top of muzzle, open mouth, place pill way back on the tongue, close mouth and blow softly at their nose.

Dee J.

My method as taught by my GSD breeder is similar to Dee's. While keeping their mouth closed with one hand, gently rub their throat with your other hand for a couple of seconds until they swallow. Easy peasy!

Ana Maria and Diana K.

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Judi E.

You can cut a hot dog into slices and then make a small X cut in the middle to place the pill.

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Mary K.

You can try cooking up meatballs and offering him the pill in that, too. This totally works in my household.

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Katherine M.

I give my dogs their pills in their favorite lunch meat. However. I do give them an extra piece so they will want to eat it faster and they don't find the pill.

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Craig M.

Hello! I have always resorted to a small chunk of REAL meat as a last effort. I find if they are cut a little thicker, you can make a nice clean pocket for the pill with a knife. This helps slide the pill in with little handling which helps mask any scent from the pill. Even the most stubborn dogs will like this method because even the pill will have meat flavoring.

I am not advocating for raw or natural diets, but I fully believe there is no better taste to a dog than meat so it's always an option to keep in mind.

Ham, almost any LEAN red meat trimming, cooked chicken/turkey....All work well.

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Carmen C.

Adding my two cents to all the other great suggestions:

I sometimes smear peanut butter on a tiny corner of bread (1inch or so) and enfold the pills in the sticky peanut butter. The bread gets swallowed whole.

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Taylor Grace S.

My old corgi got so good at not eating his pills and realized what pill pockets were very quickly.

If you don't want to give your dog food like peanut butter simply put the pill in the dogs mouth. Hold your hand gently around his mouth to keep it closed so they can't spit it out. Cup your other hand around their nose and blow strongly into their nostrils and this will make them have to swallow the pill. It kinda tickles them so they move their tongue and swallow even if they don't want to. You may have to blow into their nose a few times but it always does the trick with every dog I've tried it with

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Eli T.

My dogs never refuse bacon grease slathered onto a Ritz cracker. I bury the pill right into the grease.

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Delaney D.

I actually use hummus. My dog LOVES it! Especially carrot hummus. He also likes yogurt but he is sometimes smarter than the spoonful of yogurt. If that doesn't work, I open his mouth, put it as far back as possible, close his mouth, and massage his throat. Makes him swallow and the pill is gone! Works every time!

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Kathryn K.

Pill covered in gushy substance like wet food, cream cheese, yogurt, or similar, then wrapped in high value item such as deli meat or cheese slice is my best suggestion!

Even if you can get the morsel into the mouth this method, then just do the old "hold mouth closed and gently stroke neck until a swallow or three has happened" it might all go faster.

Good luck with your old man!

Comments

TRY A PILL POCKET-ANY BRAND. IT HAS ALWAYS WORKED FOR ME.

LOLA C.

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Alfredo R.

you can use flavored pill pockets or with the owners permission a piece of ham. they will just eat it whole. they love ham

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Any tips or tricks for giving a particularly wily dog a pill?

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